How to use your phone for high-quality videography

Your phone may not be the best video camera you own but it's most likely the one you always have handy. ET shows you how you can use it to record & share high-quality video.

PREPARING THE DEVICE

Before shooting a video, make sure that you clean your smartphone's camera lens with a soft cloth to remove any fingerprints or dust particles. Next, go through the settings - choose the highest recording resolution and quality available, turn the video light on/off as required, switch on anti shake if available and choose to store the video on the external memory card.

Video recording requires a lot of storage space, so make sure that you have at least 8GB free. You can also switch your phone to airplane mode if you don't want the video to get disrupted with an incoming phone, message or notification. Most default video recorder apps offer basic features for video recording and are good enough to use for most occasions. For more advanced features, try Camera Plus Pro (for iOS, Rs 110). Android users can try out Lgcamera (free).

SHOOTING THE VIDEO

One of the main things to keep in mind when recording video using a phone - your hands will invariably shake a little and the result will be a shaky, jerky or blurry video. You can get around this by using a phone tripod or propping it up on a level surface. Since most phones have poor low light capabilities, make sure there is adequate light on your subject.

Learn and use advanced features available in the app/device you are using - features such as tap to focus, manual exposure or selectable FPS (frames per second) in videos can make a big difference. Do not use digital zoom - it just enlarges a portion of the frame and results in a very apparent loss in quality. Also note that continuous video recording can drain your phone's battery very quickly. You can either keep the phone plugged-in to a power outlet or use a portable charger to make sure the battery lasts.

EDITING & PACKAGING

After you are done recording the video you can choose to edit it on your smartphone or on a computer. For phones and tablets there are a few excellent video editing apps available. Try VidTrim Pro (Rs 152) or AndroMedia HD (free) for Android. iOS users can try CinemaFX (Rs 110), iMovie (Rs 270) or the free Pinnacle Studio. Windows PC users can either use the Windows Movie Maker from Microsoft or use free, third-party software like Virtualdub (www. virtualdub.org) or Wax (www.debugmode.com/wax) to edit videos.

All of these offer a number of effects, enhancements and editing features to give your video a professional finish. Once you're done editing, you need to export/render the file so that you can write it to a CD/DVD, copy to flash drive or upload to video sharing sites like YouTube and Vimeo. A few apps let you share edited video directly to Facebook or a website/blog. Â

LIVE STREAMING A VIDEO

Lets say you're present at an important event that you want other people to see as it happens - could be a concert, a wedding or any impromptu live event. You can use your smartphone (an active 3G or Wi-Fi connection is needed) to literally broadcast the video to an unlimited number of users, any where in the world. Here's how it works. Head to www.ustream.tv and sign up for a free account. Ustream is a free, cross-platform , live streaming platform .

Once you sign up, you can create a 'channel' which will have the URL www.ustream.tv/channel/yourchannelname - just share this link with the people who want to tune into the live stream. Next, download the free Ustream app on your Android or iOS device and sign in. Now all you have to do is start recording a video through the app and it will be live streamed to all users watching your channel.

ACCESSORIES

GorillaPod PhoneCam

$30 + shipping The GorillaPod for phones works with almost any phone that is up to 3-inches wide. The flexible legs can twist any which way to get a sure grip on any surface - you can even hang a phone on a vertical pole or upside down from a tree branch. www.photojojo.com

Photojojo Phone Lenses

$49 + shipping Smartphones have to fit a lot into a very slim chassis - which is why their lenses could use some help. Photojojo's lens kit includes highquality glass fisheye, telephoto, macro & wide-angle lenses that work with most smartphones. www.photojojo.com

Capdase Smart Tripod

1,874 The Smart Tripod works with many different phones and even with cameras that weigh up to 700 grams. It has a swivel head for adjustability while the flexible legs provide a sturdy mount for shake-free photos and videos. www.stuffcool.com

Capdase Bike Mount

799 With the Capdase Bike Mount, you can safely mount your smartphone onto a bicycle handlebar or really any pole that is between 21 to 40mm in diameter. The holder is cushioned for a snug fit and can rotate 360 degrees. www.stuffcool.com